Vending-machine.



G. Ay-MELUHBRT. VEIDING MACHINE. APPLIUATIQN FILED Nov. 14, 1912.

Patented June 2, 1914.

6 SHEETS-$33M 1.

WITNESSES.

'G A, Mew/79W) A TTORNEY 0. A. MELGH'ERT.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV 14, 1912.

1,098,582 v Patented June 2,1914.

6 fiHBETS-SHEBT 2.

' WIT/VESSES: m/ma/rm m a v Ci /WWZCWWVL v u W foamy G. A. MELOHERT.

VENDING MACHINE APPLICATION FILED NOV. 14, .1912.

Patented June 2, 1914.

0 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVEN T05 2 Mefahe/f AimRA/H w M u MM G. A. MELGHERT.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.14, 1912.

Patented June 2, 1914.

6 SHEBTSr-SHEET 4.

IN VEN TOR A TTORNEY U. L MELUi-IEIZIHZ 'VEN'DHFH'J: MACHINE,

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 14-, 1912.

W! WEISS I5 7:

Patented June 2, 1914.

6 SHEETS-$HEET a.

WIN/E8858:

' IAWENTOH CHARLES A. MELCHERT, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

VENDING-MAGHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 2, 1914.

Application filed November 14, 1912. Serial No. 731,406.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES A. MuLoiinR'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State" of Missouri, have invented certain new v and useful Improve ments in Vendingh lachines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accom anying drawings, and to the letters and gures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to vending machines, and more particularly to a device for auto matically vending toilet articles, or the like, when a suitable releasing trigger is actuated following the insertion of a coin through a slot in the casing of a machine.

More particularly the machine comprises a drum which is adapted for carrying a plurality of articles over a trap, and 1nechanism for stopping the drumand releasing the trap to deliver a single article to a purchaser.

In accomplishing the above objects I have provided the improved details of structure hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure I is a perspective view of a vend ing machine constructed according to my invention. Fig. II is a central, vertical section of same. Fig. III is a detail perspective of the storage drum. Fig. IV is a similar view of the trap plate. Fig. V is a detail perspective of the pointer and latch for stopping the storage drum in avending position. Fig. V1 is a side elevation of the trap plate and actuating mechanism Fig. Vll is a view of the same parts taken from the opposite direction. Fig. VIII is a rear view of the actuating mechanism. Fig. lX is a detail perspective of the rear portion of the mechanism looking down wardly into the rear end of the coin chute. Fig. X is a similar view of the opposite side of the parts shown in Fig. lK. Fig. XI is an enlarged, vertical section of the vending tra) showing itsrelation to its plate. Fig. II is an enlarged bottom plan view of the trap. Fig. XIII is a detail per spective of the delivery chute. Fig. XIV is a horizontal section of part of the coinchute showing the detector.

,rnembers, the two openings being Referring more in detail to the parts, 1 designates a casing, which may be constructed of cast metal, and has a flat rear end 2 adapted to seat flush against the wall of a room or hallway in a luiilding to which it may be secured by screws 3, or the like; the upper forward portion of the cesing being extended as an overhanging shelf il, the curved front face of which is provided with an opening 5 which may be closed by a door 6 having a lockl'. The upper portion of the casing has an inturued flange 8 surrounding a central opening 9, and seated on said flange and covering the opening a trap plate 10. Seated on the edge of the trap plate is a glass globe 11 having an outturnedflange 12 at its lower edge by means of which it is secured to the casing through its locking combination with a rim l3 and screws 141-, which latter extend up through the casing flange into lugs 15 on the inner surface of the rim.

Journaled in the trap plate 10, and in a bearing 16 in the topef the globe, is a spindle 17 having a handwheel l8 exposed above the top of the globe.

Fixed to the spindle within the globe is lower plate 19 wi'iich a drum couipi'lslng a is spaced from the trap plate 10 by a collar 21 winch 1S spaced 20, and an upper plate from the lower member by studs 22 suiliciently to hold articles in vertical position within the drum.

lhe drum members are provided with registering apertures E23, and opening inwardly from the apertures in thelowernieniher are slots 'il l, for a purpose presently described.

The trap plate 1.0 is preferably provided with edge notches 25 adapted for receiving the rirn lugs 15, to hold the plate rigidly in position, and is provided with openings 26 and 27 of slightly greater diameter than the registering apertures 9.3 in thedrum preferably arranged at about a ninety degree angle in order to facilitate the supplying of the machine, as presently described, and one of the openings being arranged near the rim of the ilate andin line extending dis-- metrically through the plate from the front thereof.

Rising from the plate, at the front of the machine, but at the side of the dis-metrical line within which the trap opening is located, is an upturned pointer E39 having rot an inturned spring lip thereon adapted for Wiping the edge of the lower drum member 19 and for seating in sockets 31 therein, to yieldingly hold the drum in position when a pair of the registering openings are directly over the trap openings 26.

On the upper drum member, directly above the sockets 31, are pointers 33 and above the pointers are holders 34 which are adapted for holding cards 35 upon which the name of an article carried in the drum may be marked, the name in the marker indicating the can of the other receptacle, or article, which is in the portion of the drum directly over the trap opening 26 when the pointers 33 and 29 are in alinement.

The opening 26 in the trap plate is normally closed by a trap 37, comprising a round, metal cap which is adapted for pro jection into the opening and has a periph' eral flange 38 adapted to underlie the plate and limit the upper projection of the cap, the trap being provided with a forwardly projecting ear 39 having hinged mounting on a pin 40 carried beneath the trap plate.

Pivotally connected with the bottom of the trap 37 is a toggle link 43 which eX- tends forwardly and downwardly and is pivotally connected with the main link 44, which latter is in turn pivotally mounted on a pin 45 (Fig. VI) on the lower end of the coin chute 47 and has a stop head 48 projected into the chute channel and also pro vided with a tooth 49 which is adapted for engagement with a finger 50 on a lever 51 which is also pivotally mounted on said chute.

Projecting laterally from the side of the toggle link 44 is a pin 52 which normally engages the inclined edge 53 of the head 54 on the arm 55 of a bell crank lever 56, which is also pivotally mounted on the coin chute and has an arm 57 projected upwardly and pivotally connected with a plunger 58 which extends forwardly through an aperture 59 in the front of the casing.

The outer arm 55 of the bell crank lever 56 is normally yieldingly retained in an elevated position by a spring 60 which is connected therewith and ith a hanger 61 on the trap plate.

A lip 64 projects laterally from the arm 55 through an arcuatile slot 66 in the side of a coin chute andis adapted for travel through the chute channel when the lever arm is rocked downwardly by actuation of the plunger.

The lever 51 has a depending arm 68 and connected with said arm, and with a lip 69 on the tooth 49 of the toggle lever, is a spring 70 whereby the toggle lever is returned to initial position after each actuation.

On the rear arm of the lever 51 is a finger 72 which projects into the chute channel and has a downwardly and outwardly inclined lip 73 thereon between which and the head 48 on the toggle lever, a coin is adapted to seat after being inserted into the mouth of the chute.

Pivotally connected with the forward end of the lever 51 is a link 74 which projects up through an opening 75 in the trap plate and is adapted for projection into the slots 24 in the lower drum member when the lever' 51 is rocked by the lowering of a coin against the finger 72, thereby holding the drum in a delivery position and preventing further revolution thereof until an article has been delivered through the trap to a purchaser.

The coin chute may be of any ordinary construction, having a slot 76 at the front of the machine and having a lateral opening 77 through which a coin of less than a proper diameter may be thrust by the tension of a spring 78, the head 79 of which projects through an opening 80 in the side of the chute opposite opening 77 so that as small coins pass down the chute they are thrust laterally and fall through the opening instead of passing to the trap position.

The opening 27 in the-trap plate is closed by a cap 82 having a leaf 83 hinged to a pin 84 carried by ears 85 that depend from the trap plate, and having a cutout portion so for latching over a spring lip 87 on the trap plate. The cap is also preferably provided with a handle 89 by which it may be opened when articles are to be placed inthe carrying drum.

The articles when released from the trap plate drop into a vertical chute 90 which extends through the bottom of the casing 1 and has a bottom tray 91 provided with a cushion 92 for receiving the can, or other article, and preventing its breaking when stopped by the tray.

In order to hold the articles in the tray until removed by the purchaser, I provide a depending chain. or the like, 93, which hangs in front of the opening 94 in the chute 90, and is adapted to catch the cans or articles should they tip outwardly after striking the tray. It is apparent that the chain may be easily swung out of the way to allow the purchaser to remove the article.

In using the machine, presuming the parts to be assembled as described, and the drum filled with the articles indicated by the tickets in the holders 34, a purchaser desiring an article indicated by one of the tickets revolves the drum by manipulating the handle 18 until the pointer 33 for the article designated by the ticket in the holder points opposite the pointer on the stationary trap plate. With the pointers in this position, the can or article desired is immediately above the delivery opening in the trap plate and supportedon the cap 37, the cans or articles all being supported by the trap plate or caps and sliding over the top of the plate when the drum is revolved. The purchaser then drops the proper coin into the chute and. the coin traveling down the inclined channel stops against the head 48 on the toggle lever and rests on the lip 72 of the lever 51. The purchaser then pushes inwardly on the plunger 58, rocking the bell crank lever 56 against the tension of its spring so that the lip ti-l on said lever is moved downwardly into contact with the top of the coin and pushes the coin down against the toggle arm and lip '72, rocking the lever 51 so that the lower end of the toggle is released and the link 75 is pushed upwardly into a slot in the lower drum member to prevent the drum from being revolved during the delivery operation. As the coin is moved down- Wardly it pushes outwardly on the toggle head breaking the toggle so that the cap 37 is lowered by the positive actuation of the toggle and also by the weight of the article carried thereon, the article dropping through the trap and being delivered to the tray at the bottom of the delivery chute. As soon as the delivery is made, the spring 60 rocks the bell 0 unit lever back to its original po sition, the inclined head of the outer lever arm straightening the toggle to move the cap back into its opening, and the head 48 tensioning the spring 70 to close the lever 51, so that it holds the toggle in straightened position, thereby preventing its breaking under weight of an article moved thereover when the drum is again revolved.

It is apparent that with this mechanism a purchaser may select any desired article and move same to a vending position after which he may secure the article by placing a coin in the machine and operating the plunger.

The drum may be refilled by removing the door in the front of the case and projecting the cans or other articles up through thc feed opening 27 after the cap 82 has been opened.

Having thus described my invention, what- I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is

1. A vending machine comprising a casing, a trap plate mounted in the casing and provided with an opening, a trap member adapted for closing the opening, a drum revoluble above the trap plate and adapted for pushing the articles over the plate and onto the trap member, mechanism operable from the exterior of the casing for controlling the trap member, and means also operable by said mechanism for locking the drum.

2. A vending machine COI11}')IlSlI1g a casing, a trap plate mounted in the casing and provided with an opening, a drum adapted for moving articles over the plate and onto the member, said drum comprising spaced disks having registering apertures, one of said members being provided with slots,

mechanism operable from the exterior of the casing for releasing said trap, and a. link operable from said mechanism and adapted for projection into the drum slots, for the purpose set forth.

3. A. vending n achine comprising a casing, a horizontal trap plate mounted in the casing and provided with a. delivery open-- ing, a trap member hingedly connected with the plate and adapted for closing the open ing, means for holding the trap member in closed position, mechanism operable from the exterior of the machine for actuating the trap holding means, and a stop member adapted foractuation by said mechanism to hold the drum when the trap member actuated.

4. A vending machine comprising a trap plate, having an opening, a trap member for closing the opening, means for moving articles over the trap member, a toggle connected with the trap member, and lever 1nechanism ope "able from the exterior of the machine for breaking the toggle.

5. .ilt vending machine comprising a trap plate having an opening therein, a trap member for closing the opening, means for moving articles over the trap member, a toggle connected with the trap memben'a lever having a. latch tooth for holding the tog le in a straightened position, and a plot e mechanism adapted for actuating the latch member and toggle.

In testimony whereol ll a'lliit my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHAltLlE-fzl MlIlfiOl-l litll].

Witnesses Laura L. Mrnnnu, lin'ra l5 Uoa'ro. 

